How to start thinking critically and sharpen your mind

In today's fast-paced, information-rich world, the ability to think critically has become more crucial than ever. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply someone looking to navigate life's complexities more effectively, honing your critical thinking skills can be a game-changer. It enables you to evaluate situations objectively, consider evidence, and arrive at logical conclusions.

By identifying cognitive biases and analyzing arguments with an open-minded approach, you can improve your problem-solving abilities and make better decisions.

Let's dive into what critical thinking is, why it's essential, the traits that define it, the specific skills involved, and how you can start sharpening your critical thinking abilities right now.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information to form an objective judgment. It involves active engagement, going beyond accepting information at face value to understand how to apply it effectively and ethically in various contexts.

It’s also considered a form of emotional intelligence, as it requires insight into one’s own biases and assumptions.

Passive thinking vs. critical thinking

• Passive thinking accepts information without question, while critical thinking dives deeper to uncover connections and evaluate validity.
• Critical thinkers go beyond surface-level insights, making better decisions and solving problems more effectively.

Creative thinking and critical thinking

While critical thinking and creative thinking differ in purpose and methodology, they complement each other:

• Critical thinking: Analytical and evaluative, focused on refining and improving ideas.
• Creative thinking: Generative and exploratory, producing novel and innovative solutions.

Together, they create a powerful problem-solving process: creative thinking generates new ideas, and critical thinking refines and evaluates them for effective implementation.

Examples of thinking critically

Critical thinking requires understanding the relationships between ideas, concepts, initiatives, or goals. For example:

• A cross-functional team working on a company pricing strategy must critically evaluate various factors.
• Team members from departments like sales, marketing, product, operations, and customer success bring their own biases and assumptions.
• A critical thinker examines not only these assumptions but also the balance between short-term pricing strategies and long-term buying behavior.

What are critical thinking skills and why are they important?

Critical thinking skills are a powerful set of mental tools that enable us to analyze complex information, evaluate evidence, make reasoned decisions, and solve challenging problems. These skills allow individuals to think critically, challenge assumptions, and arrive at well-reasoned conclusions, benefiting both personal and professional growth.

7 Characteristics of critical thinkers

Critical thinkers possess several key characteristics that set them apart:

1. Curiosity

Critical thinkers have a natural inclination to ask questions, explore evidence, and seek a deeper understanding of arguments and concepts. Their curiosity drives them to think critically about the world around them.

2. Open-mindedness

They are receptive to different perspectives and viewpoints, demonstrating open-mindedness by being willing to change their beliefs when presented with compelling evidence.

3. Cognitive flexibility

Critical thinkers display the ability to adapt their thought processes, considering multiple perspectives, uncovering cognitive biases, and identifying logical connections between ideas.

4. Analytical skills

Critical thinkers excel at breaking down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. This logical reasoning enables them to analyze sources of information and evaluate their reliability.

5. Self-awareness and objectivity

They strive to evaluate information objectively by recognizing and setting aside personal biases. This self-awareness helps them make sound judgments based on facts and reasoning, rather than assumptions.

6. Communication

Critical thinkers can articulate complex ideas and engage in meaningful discourse. They clearly express their arguments, ask probing questions, and engage in productive dialogue even with opposing viewpoints.

7. Persistence

Committed to finding the truth or best solution, critical thinkers persevere even in the face of obstacles. They use logical reasoning and analytical skills to stay focused on achieving their goals.

The role of argument and reasoning in critical thinking

Good critical thinkers excel at making well-supported arguments. An argument involves presenting a statement backed by credible evidence. This skill is crucial during constructive conflicts or when analyzing a situation critically. Through strong arguments, critical thinkers explore multiple viewpoints to form a balanced judgment.

In addition to arguments, reasoning plays a vital role in critical thinking. Critical thinkers use reasoning skills to infer logical conclusions from facts and evidence. This process helps them evaluate situations, determine the best course of action, and solve problems effectively.

Why is critical thinking important at work and in life?

Developing critical thinking skills benefits individuals in several ways:

• Enhanced problem-solving: Critical thinkers break down complex problems into manageable parts, analyze them systematically, and find effective solutions.
• Improved decision-making: By evaluating information objectively, critical thinkers make informed and rational decisions based on evidence and sound reasoning.
• Increased career success: Employers highly value critical thinking for fostering innovation, increasing efficiency, and solving workplace problems effectively.
• Personal growth: Critical thinking promotes self-reflection and continuous learning, leading to personal and professional development.
• Adaptability: In a rapidly changing world, critical thinkers can assess new situations and adjust their strategies effectively.
• Effective communication: Critical thinkers excel at articulating their thoughts logically, constructing compelling arguments, and engaging in meaningful discussions.
• Lifelong learning: By fostering curiosity and a drive for knowledge, critical thinking encourages continuous learning and personal growth.

Key critical thinking skills

The key critical thinking skills include identifying biases, inference, research, identification, curiosity, and judging relevance.

Let’s explore these six critical thinking skills you should learn and why they’re so important to the critical thinking process.

1. Identifying biases

This skill is essential for metacognition, as it involves recognizing both personal and external cognitive biases. Biases influence how we interpret evidence and facts, but awareness allows us to question assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints.

2. Inference

Inference is the ability to draw conclusions based on the information you have. Without inference, it can be difficult to take action once you’ve analyzed the facts presented to you. Processing information is key to coming up with a reasoned judgment.

3. Research

Before analyzing or drawing conclusions, critical thinkers need accurate and relevant sources of information. Research skills enable them to gather necessary facts, whether through online searches, market analysis, or direct investigation.

Examples:

• A market analyst researches competitors to evaluate pricing strategies.
• A first responder assesses the scene of an accident, prioritizing injuries without external research.

Research ensures that conclusions and decisions are based on comprehensive, credible evidence.

4. Identification

This skill involves recognizing problems and their underlying influences. Identification helps critical thinkers determine when analysis is necessary and identify the factors affecting an issue.

5. Curiosity

Don’t be afraid to question everything and explore what you’re curious about. That’s because intellectual curiosity is a valuable skill, especially when it comes to critical thinking.

One way to practice curiosity is to adopt a beginner’s mindset. When you come into every situation with the mindset of a beginner, you’re able to keep an open mind. You’ll be able to perceive things you may not have noticed when keeping your mind closed.

6. Judging relevance

Not all information holds equal weight. Critical thinkers must discern which facts and details are most pertinent to their objectives.

Take, for instance, basic online researching skills. You have access to a plethora of information on virtually every topic imaginable. But performing online research requires you to constantly judge the relevance of what you see. 

Without judging relevance, you’d spend too much time on details that don’t matter as much for the final desired outcome. But when you’re able to discern what’s most pertinent, you can give that information more weight as you’re thinking critically.

• Analysis: Breaking down complex information into smaller parts and examining each part carefully.
• Evaluation: Assessing the credibility of sources, the quality of evidence, and the validity of arguments.
• Self-regulation: Monitoring your own thinking processes and identifying any biases or assumptions that may be influencing your judgment. (NOTE: this would be combined with the first skill of identifying bias)
• Communication: Clearly articulating thoughts and defending conclusions with well-supported reasoning.
• Reflection: Reviewing decisions and learning from past experiences to improve future outcomes.

Critical thinking example in real life

A manager at a mid-sized company must implement a new software system to improve efficiency. The task involves multiple stakeholders, significant costs, and potential workflow disruptions, requiring critical thinking to make an informed decision.

1. Gathering information: The manager researches software options, analyzing features, costs, and implementation requirements.
2. Evaluating evidence: They assess current workflows, identify pain points, and weigh the benefits against risks and costs, considering short- and long-term impacts.
3. Considering perspectives: Input from departments with conflicting opinions is carefully reviewed.
4. Identifying biases: The manager reflects on their preference for cutting-edge technology, stemming from their IT background, and ensures decisions are guided by organizational needs rather than personal biases.

By objectively analyzing information, evaluating evidence, and addressing biases, the manager develops a well-reasoned plan that aligns with company goals, gains stakeholder buy-in, and ensures smoother implementation.

13 ways to start thinking critically

Want to start improving your own critical thinking skill sets? Here’s how you can improve critical thinking skills using 12 techniques:

1. Play games that require critical thinking skills, like chess, sudoku, or board games requiring logical reasoning
2. Question everything: don't accept information at face value. Ask yourself "WHY?" and "how do we know this to be true?" and "is decision this good for me or is it good for others as well?"
3. Question your assumptions
4. Find ways to solve more problems (at work and at home)
5. Become aware of your mental processes, like the availability heuristic
6. Think for yourself: don’t adopt other people’s opinions without questioning them first
7. Seek out diversity of thought
8. Start developing foresight. Practice "What If" questions which will allow you to anticipate potential challenges and opportunities.
9. Try active listening
10. Weigh the consequences of different actions before you act
11. Seek a mentor who can help you develop these skills
12. Get professional coaching

Improve your critical thinking skills 

Critical thinking skills can be challenging to develop on your own. However, working with someone can make the process more manageable. Connect with a BetterUp Coach to see how a coach can help you enhance your ability to evaluate information objectively, identify biases, and make well-reasoned decisions. Start developing your critical thinking skills today and gain the tools to navigate complex situations, solve problems, and positively impact your personal and professional life.